Application of surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy to the study of SOFC electrode surfaces

SERS provided by sputtered silver was employed to detect trace amounts of chemical species on SOFC electrodes. Considerable enhancement of Raman signal and lowered detection threshold were shown for coked nickel surfaces, CeO2 coatings, and cathode materials (LSM and LSCF), suggesting a viable approach to probing electrode degradation and surface catalytic mechanism.